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Jack McDonald, a Class of 1956 Diman graduate, gets a tour of the kitchen cabinets, built by this year's students, from Building and Property Maintenance Instructor Patrick Bowen. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School students have finished building this year's house at 37 Chicago Street. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
With the school year's work done, a nice house sits where there was none last fall, thanks to Diman students, teachers and staff, and partnerships with the Fall River Community Development Agency, and People, Incorporated. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Admiring the excellent bathroom tile work of Diman Building & Property Maintenance junior class member Tiffany Thiboutot are her mom, Stacey Amorin, and sister, Amber Thiboutot, with Diman Voke's incoming Superintendent-Director Thomas Aubin. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
An open house gives people a chance to view the house, including the spacious living room seen here. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
After seeing her son's handiwork, Barbara Daigle announces that she expects new cabinets at home within the next year. Nick Daigle is a sophomore at Diman Voke, in the school's cabinetmaking program. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Seen in silhouette in front of the sliding glass door from the house's dining area to the back deck are Diman's incoming Superintendent-Director Thomas Aubin, left, and Automotive Technology Department Head John Chicharro. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Jack McDonald, a Class of 1956 Diman graduate, gets a tour of the kitchen cabinets, built by this year's students, from Building and Property Maintenance Instructor Patrick Bowen. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School students have finished building this year's house at 37 Chicago Street. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
With the school year's work done, a nice house sits where there was none last fall, thanks to Diman students, teachers and staff, and partnerships with the Fall River Community Development Agency, and People, Incorporated. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Admiring the excellent bathroom tile work of Diman Building & Property Maintenance junior class member Tiffany Thiboutot are her mom, Stacey Amorin, and sister, Amber Thiboutot, with Diman Voke's incoming Superintendent-Director Thomas Aubin. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
An open house gives people a chance to view the house, including the spacious living room seen here. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
By Jonathan Sigal
Correspondent
Correspondent
Thomas F. Aubin has a phrase he likes to tell people: His city’s neighborhoods can reclaim their glory days one home at a time.
That assertion by Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s soon-to-be superintendent-director took root Monday afternoon, with 37 Chicago Street in Fall River at long last holding an open house showcase.
The 1,500 square foot, ranch style home was erected by student carpenters, plumbers and electricians, among others, and it was not too long ago one needed a ladder to enter the front door or descend into the basement. However, the project, which started way back in the school year’s onset, has firmly closed the door on its blueprint days.
“I think the kids are going to be amazed at their progress,” said Jeffrey Cabral, senior carpentry instructor and outside coordinator at Diman. “Seeing it from the start — literally a foundation and a hole in the ground — to seeing an actual house, they’re going to be really happy.”
In partnership with the Fall River Community Development Agency and People Incorporated, the Chicago Street residence is complete with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage. The unique aspect, though, is its energy efficiency, Cabral said.
Equipped with an on-demand water system, air conditioner condenser unit, LED lightbulbs, high-value insulation and gas furnace, the home boasts similarities to LEED-certified buildings. The key, Aubin said, is those aspects reduce living costs for the project that’s been chugging along since 1972.
“In September it’s watching them sometimes swing a hammer funnily, but by the time April, May and June come around they’re swinging it like a professional,” Aubin said. “There’s simply nothing like experiential learning, and years from now when they drive by they’ll be able to tell their kids that they played a big role in building the house.”
Originally marketed to veterans, Cabral said a mom and three kids are expected to move in once inspections are completed. The location — right across the street from Maplewood Park — is something Nathan Byrnes, media services coordinator at Diman, said only augments the internship-like experience.
“It’s a great way for the kids to collaborate and move outside of their disciplines,” Byrnes said. “They don’t necessarily always get to see the other crews — they all have their own distinct parts they work on. This allows them to see the end product and it all come together."
Come the 2016-17 school year, Aubin expects the project will remain alive and well, as a property on Fall River’s Duluth Street will receive the same treatment by a cohort of more than 100 Diman students. Partnerships with the Fall River Community Development Agency and People Incorporated, as well as other area companies, will carry on.
And if Aubin had to guess, Diman students will construct another home the Fall River community can admire.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the partnerships, and couldn’t be more pleased with the team we put out there this year,” Aubin said. “The instructors were outstanding and the kids did a marvelous job.
“This is a beautiful home, and I believe next year’s will be the same.”
The 1,500 square foot, ranch style home was erected by student carpenters, plumbers and electricians, among others, and it was not too long ago one needed a ladder to enter the front door or descend into the basement. However, the project, which started way back in the school year’s onset, has firmly closed the door on its blueprint days.
“I think the kids are going to be amazed at their progress,” said Jeffrey Cabral, senior carpentry instructor and outside coordinator at Diman. “Seeing it from the start — literally a foundation and a hole in the ground — to seeing an actual house, they’re going to be really happy.”
In partnership with the Fall River Community Development Agency and People Incorporated, the Chicago Street residence is complete with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage. The unique aspect, though, is its energy efficiency, Cabral said.
Equipped with an on-demand water system, air conditioner condenser unit, LED lightbulbs, high-value insulation and gas furnace, the home boasts similarities to LEED-certified buildings. The key, Aubin said, is those aspects reduce living costs for the project that’s been chugging along since 1972.
“In September it’s watching them sometimes swing a hammer funnily, but by the time April, May and June come around they’re swinging it like a professional,” Aubin said. “There’s simply nothing like experiential learning, and years from now when they drive by they’ll be able to tell their kids that they played a big role in building the house.”
Originally marketed to veterans, Cabral said a mom and three kids are expected to move in once inspections are completed. The location — right across the street from Maplewood Park — is something Nathan Byrnes, media services coordinator at Diman, said only augments the internship-like experience.
“It’s a great way for the kids to collaborate and move outside of their disciplines,” Byrnes said. “They don’t necessarily always get to see the other crews — they all have their own distinct parts they work on. This allows them to see the end product and it all come together."
Come the 2016-17 school year, Aubin expects the project will remain alive and well, as a property on Fall River’s Duluth Street will receive the same treatment by a cohort of more than 100 Diman students. Partnerships with the Fall River Community Development Agency and People Incorporated, as well as other area companies, will carry on.
And if Aubin had to guess, Diman students will construct another home the Fall River community can admire.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the partnerships, and couldn’t be more pleased with the team we put out there this year,” Aubin said. “The instructors were outstanding and the kids did a marvelous job.
“This is a beautiful home, and I believe next year’s will be the same.”
After seeing her son's handiwork, Barbara Daigle announces that she expects new cabinets at home within the next year. Nick Daigle is a sophomore at Diman Voke, in the school's cabinetmaking program. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Seen in silhouette in front of the sliding glass door from the house's dining area to the back deck are Diman's incoming Superintendent-Director Thomas Aubin, left, and Automotive Technology Department Head John Chicharro. Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
